Singer Shin Seung-hoon, marking his 35th debut anniversary, shared his feelings about returning with a full-length album for the first time in 10 years and talked about his future activities.
On the afternoon of the 22nd at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, a press conference was held to commemorate the release of Shin Seung-hoon's 12th full-length album 'SINCERELY MELODIES.'
'SINCERELY MELODIES' carries the meaning of 'melodies completed from the heart.' Shin Seung-hoon said he did not want to mark his 35th anniversary by dredging up past glories like a remake album to commemorate and celebrate, saying, I did not want to say 'this is the kind of person I was.' I wanted to show that I am still a singer in progress by filling the album with 11 new songs. So I released 11 new songs. All tracks will be released tomorrow at 6 p.m., and I feel both excited and pleased. A few days ago I recorded Immortal Songs and felt very sorry. When I stood on stage, the people in front were clapping and were so glad to see me. I felt sorry. To think I made these people wait like this. When junior singers came to my room and asked to take pictures together and for my number, I realized how distant I had lived from them and felt glad,' he said, sharing his thoughts.
He said, Until now, many of my songs have been about love and parting. I acted as a messenger. People would play my songs when confessing or listen when sad and say 'that's my story.' Now that I am at an age past the autumn of life if life has four seasons, there were things I couldn't write before. I asked myself, 'Can I write this at my age? What do I know?' but at this point there were things I wanted to say. Among the four seasons some times were beautiful and some were intense. As everyone experiences, there is love, friendship, and life, so I thought I should bring those up. This time, to some extent, there are songs about love, parting, friendship, and friends. Then there's mother; I wanted to try to define all those emotions. Not philosophically, but I wanted to put them into melody, so I used many such expressions,' he explained.
Shin Seung-hoon began planning and preparing this album three years ago. He said, I wrote most of the songs at home, but because of my age songs did not come easily at home, so I went to many song camps. The most memorable was living in Jeju for a month. It was my first time staying away for a month; I went thinking I'd write just two songs, but 12 songs came out. Songs kept coming during that month as if it were unbelievable. I thought the songs would sound different listening by the sea and objectively monitoring them in Seoul. When I monitored them, I thought eight of them should be included on the album. In Seoul I made one song each in Gapyeong, Yangpyeong, and Hongcheon, totaling 11 songs,' he revealed behind-the-scenes details.
On the album title, Shin Seung-hoon said, I want to say it is truly sincere. It is a melody written from the heart and completed. I think I made the album with all my sincerity. I wrote each song thinking this might be the last album. With the passage of time, the old passion and the dullness when leaves fall and you think 'the people who clean up will have a hard time' sets in. So I thought this might be the last time I can write all the songs myself. I wrote as if every song could be the title. Please listen to the rest of the songs and view the album as a whole. There are omnibus works and short films, but a full-length album is special. Because it is a full album, I hope you can see all the joys and sorrows, spring, summer, fall, winter,' he said.
Ahead of the full album release, Shin Seung-hoon pre-released the single 'She Was' on the 10th. He said, It is a tribute song to fans who have waited for a long time. Personally, there is a song called 'To the Girl' on my third album. That girl became a lady. Then on my 10th album there is a song called 'Lady.' That lady became the mother of a child and gave up her dreams in the name of sacrifice, so I wanted to give about four minutes of comfort to someone living that way. I feel the 'Hey Girl' series is complete with this. Of course I might go toward grandmother later as I get older, but I think 'She Was' completes it. Male fans ask for 'He Was' too, saying we are lonely and want comfort, so I'll think about it,' he joked. He added, I'm very grateful to Moon So-ri for appearing in the music video. I wrote the music video script, and I heard she read it and cried hard, so I felt I had done well,' expressing his satisfaction.
The album, featuring a double title track, opens with the first title track 'You as gravity,' which harmoniously blends the melody of acoustic guitar and the sound of electric guitar to express the emotions surrounding the beginning and end of love and the feelings that flood in afterward. The second title track, 'TRULY,' passionately captures the true feelings of love realized after time has passed. The two songs sing about love from different perspectives and compressively showcase the emotional depth and musical narrative the album aims to convey.
Shin Seung-hoon said, I decided the title 'TRULY' three years ago and thought I'd try writing it. I wanted it to comfort people living fiercely in this era. I played it without lyrics to two acquaintances and they cried. They said it just warms you up. I adjusted the lyrics to make it warmer with good words to give comfort,' adding, It's a song to make you cry when you want to cry or to pat you on the back; I wanted to encompass love and friendship and everything. After about 35 years, I felt this should be the kind of ballad Shin Seung-hoon should make, so I have affection for this song. Some said it's difficult, but I like this song,' he said.
About 'You as gravity' he said, As an artist I wanted to speak big about love. I wrote lyrics like this is love, this is parting, and some things are unavoidable. The spectrum is different; this has a somewhat different rock-like feel. He also played an additional track, 'Moment of the star,' explaining, It means an act that has a profound impact on the future. I think everyone has that moment. I wanted to express the confidence to seize that moment and achieve it. I made the title and melody three years ago. I also want to be a good adult. I hope many people live that way, so I'm introducing this song today. There hasn't been a true singalong song at concerts. I focused a lot on this track because I wanted people to sing along,' he explained.
During the following Q&A, when asked as the 'emperor of ballads' about the recent K-pop–centered mood in the music market, Shin Seung-hoon said, These days things pass by quickly. I have become a BGM singer. In the past people paid money to listen to music; now it has become like BGM you hear when talking. Even if it's because of the times, there are things that will break through. There are 'our ballads' too. They will remain as standards. It's not about ballads rising to break through K-pop; it's enough to stay in that place. If they stay there, the rest will come down. Then ballads will begin to be visible. I think that time will come soon. I came to contribute to that. I still think ballads belong in autumn and winter,' he said confidently.
Regarding somewhat macro-level lyrics, he said, It can be difficult. I know what is liked these days. I know doing it this way would be liked, but now I can't do that. It has become a credo. If I decide not to do something, I think it's right not to do it. This time I thought I'd try writing like this. I wanted to throw out a casual line, not dig it up to say 'Isn't it sad? It will be sad,' but 'I'll tell my story, so listen' in that way. It may be difficult, but it's not about trying to look cool; these thoughts have kept coming to me. There were things I wanted to do before but couldn't, and at this age maybe I should sing those songs. I think I should sing lyrics suited to my age. Lyrics like 'the you reflected in my smile' probably wouldn't come out at my age, but I wanted to try things from a macro perspective,' he said.
When asked why it took 10 years to return with a full-length album, Shin Seung-hoon said, There were mini-albums in between. A full-length album has a different attitude. From albums one through seven, some sold a million copies. That's not because of the achievement; it shows how much care was put into each song. I want people to listen to all of my songs. I'm a singer rather than a talker, so I think you can feel it if you listen. Listening to the music will show the flow and why it took 10 years. You will think, so that's why he wanted to write these songs,' he said.
On musical direction and the message he wanted to convey in the songs, he said, It's a message about life more than a social message. Ballads shouldn't carry a spirit of resistance. They should have lyricism. You can find metaphors in there, but when people struggle fiercely, I hope they can receive comfort from my music. That is the duty of a ballad singer. It's simply my music, and I hope people listen,' he said.
Earlier, Shin Seung-hoon had expressed his determination to keep making music until his voice no longer comes out. He said, In the past at the end of concerts I said I wouldn't be a Shin Seung-hoon who disappears from rusting; I'd be a Shin Seung-hoon who disappears from being worn away. Now I'm at that age. I could wear away. But people say, 'Haven't you not worn away yet?' If something remains, it should make a beautiful descent. Like a crane with long wings, even if it falls, it shouldn't flail but descend at once when spreading its wings long. I dream of a beautiful descent. To do that I will continue making music,' he emphasized.
When asked about Kim Gun-mo, who also led the 1990s music scene and is holding a concert and making a comeback around the same time, Shin Seung-hoon said, Some people ask, 'Was that planned?' but there's nothing like that; it happened by chance. There was a time of 'Na Hoon-a vs. Nam Jin' and 'Shin Seung-hoon vs. Kim Gun-mo,' and it's great to be active here again. Senior Im Jae-beom is coming out too. It's very encouraging to appear with 1990s balladeers. Just as H.O.T. had Sechs Kies and Fin.K.L had S.E.S., I hope a continuing competitive structure remains,' he said.
Meanwhile, Shin Seung-hoon's 12th full-length album 'SINCERELY MELODIES' will be released tomorrow (23rd) at 6 p.m. After the album release, Shin Seung-hoon will hold a solo concert commemorating his 35th debut anniversary, '2025 THE Shin Seung-hoon SHOW SINCERELY 35,' at Seoul Olympic Park's Olympic Hall on Nov. 1–2 and meet fans.
Regarding the concert date falling on his debut day, Shin Seung-hoon said, Nov. 1 happened to be a public holiday. That never happened before. Rather than doing nothing that day, I wanted to hold a concert on my 35th anniversary, and it was exactly a public holiday. I felt I had to do it. We looked for an available venue on Nov. 1 and chose the Olympic Hall because I had performed there many times. Fans liked it when I did it there. It's a place where you can do a variety show. I'm planning to do it properly that day,' he said.
He said, I'll show many things. I covered everything. I watched what I did in concerts all the way back to 1994 through footage, and I'll do everything like, 'Oh, I did that then,' and 'People liked that.' It's not philosophical. I'll stage everything fans liked the most. I think this time it will really be a variety show. The important thing is that even someone attending my concert for the first time will be able to see in this performance how Shin Seung-hoon has performed concerts,' he stressed.
[Photo] Dorothy Company
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